Group Think: SALSA

In the spring of 1992, SALSA, the Spanish-American Latino Student Association was founded at UNCG by five Hispanic/Latino individuals. By 1995, this student group received a Human Relations Award by the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Here, Hispanic and Latino students unite by the bonds of heritage. Members seek to spread cultural awareness and to aid other Hispanics within the Greensboro area.

“This is a great means for people who are Hispanic to talk about what they can do to change the way that others view things. At SALSA, you get to voice your own opinions,” said Cynamon Frierson, the SALSA Treasurer. “Usually we talk about different issues that are happening within the Hispanic community. The big thing right now is immigration.”

According to the 2005 U.S. Census Bureau the Hispanic/Latino population accounted for 14.1% of the National population, 6.1% residing in North Carolina. These numbers have continued to increase within the last couple of years, and many worry about the current immigration policies under the Bush administration.

“SALSA started out as an ethnic group in essence, much like the Neo-Black Society and the Asian Student Association,” stated Josue Monge, last year’s SALSA President. “Today, SALSA is a cultural outlet for UNCG. We talk about different issues such as politics. At the moment we are most concerned with immigration.”

SALSA is open to anyone interested in Hispanic/Latino culture and relations. They meet every other Wednesday at 6 p.m . in the Multicultural Resource Center room on the first floor of the EUC.

“I personally give Latin dance lessons. They are also typically given bi-weekly,” says Monge. “There are three different Latin dances that are taught: the Salsa, the Merengue, and the Bachata.”

For more inforemaiton on SALSA, including the organization’s background and calendar of upcoming events visit its website at: www.uncg.edu/student.groups/salsa.